Rotifera

Question 1

Characteristics

Answer 1

Freshwater
Pseudocoelomate
Eutely -- fixed # of cells
Lorica (protective layer) -- not a cuticle, intracellular cytoskeletal elements, thin/flexible or thick/rigid
Ciliated corona and mastax with trophi
Circular & longitudinal muscles

Question 2

Freshwater survival

Answer 2

Protonephridia – keep pumping out excess water
Cryptobiosis – remove water, slow metabolism and sit and wait for better conditions
Amictic/Mictic life cycle

Question 3

Life Cycle

Answer 3

Amictic females produce diploid eggs to make more females via parthenogenesis in summer
In autumn switch to mictic females that make haploid eggs (male and female) these make a diploid zygote
The zygote overwinters with a resistant capsule